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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (64) finds clear words: “He went to war because he wanted less NATO. He gets more NATO.” The addressee: Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin (70). The summit meeting of the NATO member states started in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on Tuesday.
At the start of the summit, Stoltenberg achieved a complete success: after a long stalemate, the way from Sweden to NATO is clear. After months of resistance, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (69) has agreed to submit the accession protocol needed for Sweden’s admission to the Turkish parliament for approval as soon as possible. Sweden could become the 32nd alliance member as early as the fall.
Selenski calls the procedure “absurd”
Volodimir Selenski (45) also hoped for the green light in Vilnius. The goal of the Ukrainian head of state: a formal invitation to join NATO.
However, nothing came of that. The alliance gives him hope in a statement at the summit: “Ukraine’s future lies in NATO.” However, an invitation is only possible “if the allies agree and the demands are met”. These include reforms “in the field of democracy and the security sector”.
Selenski expressed his anger even before the formal decision was made: the fact that no timetable for an invitation had been set was “unprecedented and absurd,” he writes on Twitter. “For Russia, this is a motivation to continue its terror.”
In the evening, Selenski appeared on Lukiskiu Square in Vilnius and again begged his country to join: “NATO gives Ukraine security, Ukraine makes NATO stronger.”
Simplified accession for Ukraine
Although Ukraine has not received an invitation, NATO has shown its firm support for the war-torn country. Stoltenberg announced that a NATO-Ukraine Council would be established to facilitate smooth cooperation between Ukraine’s armed forces and the alliance.
In addition, NATO wants to make it easier for Ukraine to join. Ukraine will be spared the usual pre-accession program for new members. Stoltenberg: “This is a strong package for Ukraine and a clear path to NATO membership.”
Meanwhile, Germany and France reaffirmed their support with new arms shipments. At the start of the summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (65) promised a new weapons package worth 700 million euros. Delivery will include another 40 Marder armored cars, 25 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks and five armored recovery vehicles from industrial stocks, as well as two launchers for Patriot anti-aircraft missiles from the Bundeswehr.
Cruise missiles are coming from France: “We have decided to deliver new missiles with which Ukraine can go into the depths,” said French President Emmanuel Macron (45) in Vilnius. According to Élysée, these are cruise missiles of the Franco-British Scalp/Storm Shadow type.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
